Death toll from FARC attack in Colombia rises to 11 soldiers

BOGOTA: The death toll from an attack blamed on Colombia’s leftist FARC guerrillas has risen to 11 soldiers after another died of his wounds, the army said Thursday.

The nighttime attack Tuesday in the western rebel bastion of Cauca — the latest setback for the two-year-old peace process aimed at ending the five-decade conflict — also left two rebels dead, the army said.

President Juan Manuel Santos denounced the “vile” attack Wednesday and ordered the resumption of air strikes on FARC positions, which he had suspended on March 11 in recognition of the guerrillas’ declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

Some 20 other soldiers were wounded in the attack. Army commander Jaime Lasprilla said they were making a “satisfactory” recovery.